Lacing-eye



(No Model.)

F. S. MOKENNEY. LAGING BYE.

No. 438,936. Patented Oct. 21. 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

FRANKLIN S. MCKENNEY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

LAClNG-EYE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 438,936, dated October 21, 1890.

Application filed October 19, 1889. Renewed September 10, 1890. Serial No. 86%506- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN S. MCKENNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Lacing; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My present invention has for its object a new and useful lacing for gloves, shoes, and other articles of apparel, and is designed to provide a lacing of simple and economical construction, which will not chafe the wearer nor be liable to catch in the wearing-apparel, and which shall always hold the lacing-cord in engagement with the fastening employed.

To these ends my invention consists of the devices and appliances and their combinations as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, and more particularly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is aview of a shoe to which my invention is applied. Fig. 2 is a cross-section through one of the fastenings. Fig. 3 is a blank from which the fastening is constructed. Fig. 4 isa View of one of the completed fastenings. Fig. 5 is an inside View of portions of the upper to which my improved fastenings are applied.

I carry out my invention as follows: In the accompanying drawings, for purposes of illustration, I have shown my invention as applied to a shoe, although I would have it understood that I do not confine myself thereto.

A represents the shoe.

B is an inner facing, which is usually stitched to the quarter along the marginal edge to be laced, as shown, and, also, which may be stitched, when the shoe is completed, by a second line of stitching on the opposite edge of the inner facing, as shown.

0 represents my improved fastening, and D is a lacing-cord used in connection therewith. The fastening is constructed, as shown, of a single piece of metal bent to form a loop 0, to receive the cord and with shanks or arms 0 0 each preferably provided with prongs or points 0 turned in the same direction. Be-

features of the invention.

fore the inner facing is stitched down by the second line of stitches the fastenings are applied thereto, the prongs when employed being clinched through the facing. When applied to the inner facing thus, it will be seen the fastenings are entirely concealed from the exterior of the shoe, allowing the marginal edges of the shoe to be brought closely together, so as to effectually conceal, also, the lacing-cord.

The exterior facing of the shoe may be stitched upon the quarter with any ornamental stitching desired, to afford a tasty and finished appearance. These fastenings may be applied to the shoe or other article of apparel throughout the parts to be laced, or they may be applied to a certain extent, and ordinary hooks Q be employed the remaining distance, as shown in drawings, Fig. 1. The cord may be provided with a tab to prevent its disengagement from the loop of the fastenings. As so applied the cord is always in place in the fastenings, ready to be simply drawn up to bring the marginal edges of the shoe together where said lacings are employed.

It will be seen that the fastenings may be readily applied, and may be stamped out in an economical manner, first into the form of a blank, as in Fig. 3, then bent to required. form. When so made, there are no eyelets to chafe the wearer, but the fastenings set snugly and with ease. The arms when clinched in place are flat, and the loop may be so placed as to set in the groove formed back of the edge-stitching. I have described the fastenings as being applied to the inner facing so as to be concealed; but it is evident that they may also be employed on the outside of the quarter, if preferred, and the upper arm be ornamented-as desiredas, for instance, it might be shaped to form a simulated buttonhead. It will be observed thus, that my invention provides in one and the same fastening a device which can be used either on the inside or upon the outside, as may be preferred, without any change in the essential This method of lacing permits the use of a cord of smaller dimensions than those in common use. As shown, Iprefer to construct the inner arm shorter than the upper arm. In this manner the prongs of the shorter arm engage the arm in place, near the loop, giving firmness thereto, while the longer arm, reaching back toward the second row of stitching, takes a firm hold where the leather is held firmly by the stitching, whereby the leather is prevented from stretching. The face of the outer arm may be smooth where used on the inside of the article. If used on the outside of the article, said outer arm may be ornamented, as desired. WVhen in place, the shorter arm is pressed up tight against the outer arm. Where the prongs are employed, the fastening may be applied without the necessity of punching any orifices in the leather, and leaves the leather intact and of full strength. I do not, however, limit myself solely to the provision of the arms a c with prongs or points, as said arms may be secured upon the article in any suitable manner. This construction affords a smooth and neat surface on that of a boot, which after slight wear is usually rendered unsightly in the use of the ordinary eyelets and lacing-cord.

What I claim as my invention is 1. As an article of manufacture, the hereindescribed fastening, consisting of a piece of metal bent to form a loop and overlapping and impinging arms which are each provided with fastening means, the edges of the end portion of the loop being curved outward, substantially as set forth.

2. As an article of manufacture, the hereindescribed fastening, consisting of a piece of metal bent to form a loop and arms extend ing in the same direction, one of said arms shorter than the other and provided with prongs at each side of said loop, respectively,

the longer arm provided with one or more prongs, said fastening having a plane surface on the side opposite said prongs, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANKLIN S. MOKENNEY. lVitnesses:

N. S. WRIGHT, CHAS. F. SALON. 

